Students enrolled in the Doctoral Program can earn the degree of Master of Arts in Afro-American Studies by completing twelve graduate courses in Afro-American Studies (including courses from other departments acceptable for the doctorate in Afro-American Studies) and earning a grade of Pass in the first half of the General Examination. These twelve courses must include Afro-Am 701-702. The Master of Arts degree is awarded more or less automatically to doctoral students as they approach completion of the Preliminary Requirements for the doctorate.